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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

Meggitt (Germantown, MD), the maker of Wilcoxon Research accelerometers, has announced improvements to its side exit 4-20 mA vibration sensors, including a reduced size. The PCC421 and PCC423 series are 50 percent lighter and operate at 221°F. Additional connector and mounting options have also been added to the PCC421, such as the traditional MIL-C-5015 connector and the popular M12 connector.

Innovative Pilot Program to Promote Sustainable Manufacturing to Generate a $54 Million Economic Impact Over Five Years
Sustainability Fuels Savings, Growth and Competitive Advantage for 45 Participants
Environmental and Financial Impacts Exceed Expectations, Program Delivers Substantial ROI for Manufacturers, State of Wisconsin
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MILWAUKEE — An innovative program to promote sustainable manufacturing in Wisconsin is projected to generate a five-year $54 million economic impact and significant environmental benefits, states a report released today by the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) .

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — The bankruptcy filing of an electric car manufacturer has clouded the future of a northern Indiana factory that was touted as an economic boost for an area hit hard by job losses in the recreational vehicle industry.
Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore said a company official told the city's economic development director that the factory there wouldn't be affected by Norway-based Think Global's bankruptcy filing, but he remains concerned.

LE BOURGET, France (AP) — Airbus is trouncing Boeing in the race to be the world's biggest planemaker, claiming over $72 billion dollars worth of orders and commitments at the Paris Air Show, where the popularity of its new fuel-efficient jets twice broke records for the largest order ever.
Airbus' success cast a long shadow over Chicago-based Boeing, which recorded only $22 billion in orders and commitments, and raised questions over the U.

GALLATIN, Tenn. (AP) — A Gallatin, Tenn., Hoeganaes chemical plant where four workers have died in fires this year will resume partial production this week.
Officials at the Hoeganaes plant did not specify which day and said production in other areas of the facility is expected to restart over the coming weeks after reviews.

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Saab, the Swedish car company renowned for its sometimes quirky designs, moved closer to bankruptcy Thursday after it conceded that it didn't have any money to pay employees' wages.
After months of production stoppages and problems with paying suppliers, Saab said the situation is so dire that it won't be able to pay its 3,700 employees, raising doubts over how long the brand can survive.

DETROIT (AP) — Owners of cars that were new or redesigned for the 2011 model year are reporting more quality problems, partly because of glitches with the navigation screens, voice-activated systems and other technology packed into their dashboards.
J.D. Power and Associates released its annual survey of new vehicle quality Thursday.

If you’re paying much attention to the business/technology/Internet world right now, you’ve undoubtedly heard about the numerous nefarious hacks that have occurred against a wide array of targets, from the U.S. government to Sony to Citibank to online video games.
These attacks have been perpetrated, largely, by two organizations: Anonymous and the relative newcomer, Lulz Security (LulzSec).

A rich heritage, flexible operations, tribal knowledge and an enormous product line are some of the reasons why Momentive Performance Materials excels in silicones.
Last year was a milestone. Not only did Momentive Performance Materials and Hexion Specialty Chemicals merge in October under the all-encompassing Momentive brand, but the company also celebrated 70 years of innovation.

Wasp Barcode Technologies (Plano, TX) has announced the launch of Wasp Inventory Control v6, which is an updated version of the inventory software that features real-time visibility of stock levels, locations, and inventory access. In addition, it allows SMBs to instantly update inventory data using an 802.

Graphite Metallizing Corporation (Yonkers, NY) has announced the availability of additional sizes of the GRAPHALLOY 453 family of self-lubricating bushings, which are intended for use in severe industrial applications where temperatures reach 750°F. According to the company, they are designed to operate without lubrication.

Matco-Norca (Brewster, NY) is now offering a range of rugged B5 and B6 Series Butterfly Valves for use in applications involving chemical, pulp and paper, and other mediums. The B5 Series are available in wafer and lug style in 200 PSI, 2”-12”; and 150 PSI, 14”-36” sizes.

Balluff (Florence, KY) has developed new pressure sensors to combine the advantages of a display, measuring transducer, and pressure switch into a single device. According to the company, there are more than 130 versions available, all with an IP67 housing that rotates 320° and a bright display with easy programming.

Pierpaolo Petruzziello lost his left forearm and hand in a car accident with a drunk driver, but his situation wasn't without hope. A project at Rome's Università Campus Bio-Medico, a campus and university that was developing a prosthetic arm that could be controlled by thought alone.

Highly efficient, ultra-sanitary HFFS machine uses Rexroth integrated motor and drive, pneumatics, machine control and linear motion system.
It was about 35 years ago when company executives at CP Packaging began developing packaging machinery. Back then, it was only a concept to buy prepackaged meat and deli products.

Dallas, TX — Rexel, one of the world’s leading electrical distributors, announced today that it has launched a new electrical efficiency online resource: www.electrical-efficiency.com . This new online magazine will offer diverse content on related regulation, solutions, projects, markets and major news worldwide.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Kawasaki has recalled most of the workers who were laid off in the spring at its rail car production plant in Lincoln.
The plant in March laid off 115 workers because of a parts error by a supplier in Japan. The error was complicated by the earthquake in Japan.
The Lincoln Journal Star says Thursday that plant manager Mike Boyle says most employees have now returned to work.

Ford Motor Co. will offer inflatable rear seat belts in more of its vehicles starting next summer.
Ford was the first in the industry to offer the belts, which are now available on the 2011 Ford Explorer SUV. The company plans to offer them on the Ford Flex, a seven-passenger crossover wagon, and two unnamed Lincoln vehicles.

TOKYO (AP) — The owner of Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear plant will pay an estimated $1 billion (88 billion yen) to thousands of residents who evacuated homes near the radiation-leaking plant and don't yet know when they can return.
Compensation Tokyo Electric Power Co.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve acknowledged Wednesday that the economy is growing more slowly than it expected. But it said it will complete its $600 billion Treasury bond buying program by June 30 as planned and announced no further efforts to boost the economy.
Ending a two-day meeting, the Fed repeated a pledge to keep interest rates at record lows near zero for "an extended period," a promise it's made for more than two years.